Friday, April 4, 2014

The NM House Battleground Districts

Gentry

Maestas

Nice to see bipartisan agreement. In today's New Mexican. I wrote about the 10 House races that probably will determine who controls the state House of Representatives next year.

Coming up with the list was easy because both Rep. Nate Gentry, the House Republican Whip who spearheaded recruitment for GOP House candidates and his Democratic counterpart, House Dem Whip Antonio "Moe" Maestas, gave me the exact same districts where they will try to clobber each other in November.

Two of the 10 districts include parts of Santa Fe County.

They are the multi-county District 50, currently represented by Republican Vickie Perea of Belen, challenged by Democrat political newcomer Matthew McQueen of Galisteo and the Los Alamos dominate District 43, where freshman Democrat Stephanie Garcia Richards will face the winner of the GOP primary, either Geoff Rodgers or Vincent Chiravalle.

As for the other eight battleground districts:

The seats the GOP will try to pick up
• District 15 in Albuquerque, where freshman incumbent Rep. Emily Kane will face Republican Sarah Maestas Barnes.
• District 24 in Albuquerque, where another freshman, Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson, will face former Republican Rep. Conrad James.
• District 36 in Doña Ana County, where incumbent Rep. Phillip Archuleta faces former Rep. Andy Nuñez, running this time as a Republican.
• District 53 in Doña Ana County, which currently is represented by Rep. Nate Cote, who isn’t seeking re-election. Republican Ricky Little, a former legislator is running against Democrat Mariaelena Johnson.

The seats Dems hope to win from Republicans:
• District 37 in Las Cruces, where incumbent Rep. Terry McMillan once again faces Democrat Joanne Ferrary.
• District 4 in San Juan County, where GOP Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage, will face the winner of the Democratic primary, Sarah White or Harrison Todacheene.
• District 7 in Valencia County, where freshman Rep. Kelly Fajardo will face the winner of the Democratic primary contest between Teresa Smith de Cherif and former Rep. Andrew Barreras.
• District 23 in Albuquerque, where Rep. Paul Pacheco will face Democrat Catherine Begaye.